North along the Gulf Coast of Florida

As we left Key West we stopped at Big Pine Key to watch again for the endangered Key Deer.  We found eleven including this dog-sized Buck.  It is amazing how they survived the brunt of the eye of Hurricane Irma.  It was great to see a Short-tailed Hawk soar over us.

For the next week we stayed at the Jolly Roger Park near Marathon.  Each evening, everyone gathered at the Tiki Island to watch the sunset.  A group of people blew the Conch Shell three times as the sun touched the water, when it was half way down, and when it sunk beneath the water.

Scrawled Cowfish (Boxfish)
Found along the seawall at the Jolly Roger

Needlefish

Spiny Lobster - over a foot long

Horseshoe Crabs

Six-lined Race Runner

Saltwort in bloom

We then drove back to Flamingo in the Everglades National Park for 2 days.  Then spent 2 days visiting our friends Bud & Patti Myers in Fort Myers.

Wood Stork fledglings with adults

Our first of the year Swallow-tailed Kite

 Wilson's Plover 

Anhinga - body submerged

Yellow Rat Snake

We then spent two nights at Myakka River State Park enjoying the beautiful live oaks filled with birds and other wildlife.

Canopy Walkway

Armadillo under our RV

Tufted Titmouse

Myakka Lake, full of shorebirds in the distance

We then spent four days at St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge staying at Newport Park at the top end of the refuge.  One of the first birds we saw was this beautiful Swallow-tailed Kite soar in and out of the pine trees chasing insects.

Boat-tailed Grackle in nuptial plumage

Little Wood-Satyr

Abundant Sora Rails

Purple Gallinule

Pair of Bald Eagles

Clammy Ground Cherry

Willet grabs a Shrimp

Last Blue Moon until 2020

Lighthouse at St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge

Pine-woods Clematis

Tiny baby Lubber Grasshoppers

Cotton Rat Mom greets youngster

Curious Young Raccoon

Shorebirds at St. Mark's

Ruby-throated Hummer visits Musk Thistle

Blue-flower Butterwort

Ochlockonee Reflection Pond

We then spent a day at Ochlockonee River State Park.  Main goal was to photograph the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.  We also found some rare white squirrels and a Piedbald White-tailed deer with her fawn.

We were blessed with a very successful morning in the fog before we left for Alabama.


Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann

The Florida Keys

We spent a week at Key Largo enjoying the beautiful sunrises over the mangrove islands.  We also had another beautiful full moon in the clear, warm skies.

We had quite a few of the Curly-tailed Lizards around the Key Largo Kampground.

Blue-headed Vireo

White-winged Dove

Short-tailed Hawk - dark morph

On Ty's birthday, we drove south on the one road through the keys to our destination at Key West.  We stopped at Big Pine Key and the National Wildlife Refuge for the endangered Key Deer.  We found a doe and yearling along the road in exactly the same place we found them 5 years ago.  It's amazing that they survived Hurricane Irma as well as they did when we see the damage that was done in this area.

We arrived at Boyd's Campground and the next morning had this beautiful sunrise.  We walked a mile to the Tropical Botanical Gardens that display the many Cuban Palms such as this Petticoat Palm.  There were many plants and birds to enjoy along their boardwalk.

Black Racer

Ovenbird

Wilson's Warbler

Green Anole

Brown Pelican takes off

We took the Key West transit bus to Zachary Taylor State Park, of course the bus didn't stop at the park so we had a long walk too.  The beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean enhanced our birding experience.

Of course there is a historical fort to explore, this was built during the Civil War and also used in World Wars I & II.

10" Rodman Cannon

Timing is everything - a Northern Gannet does a fly-by

Hammock Skipper

Female Magnificent Frigatebird

Lion Fish

When we left the park, we stopped at the Eco-Discovery Center with displays, movies, and aquariums that covered the surrounding environment of Key West.  When talking to a volunteer about how to get to a bus stop to return to Stock Island, this wonderful lady offered us a ride back as she was finishing her time of duty.  We thankfully accepted, not wanting another long bus trip.

There were at least 65 Iguanas sunning in the Mangroves by our campground

On March 13th, we boarded the Yankee Freedom National Park Boat for a trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park and a few hours of exploring at Fort Jefferson.

Everyone was thankful to see the Fort as we had a very rough ride with 5 to 7 foot waves in the Rebecca Channel
(many sick passengers, thankfully not us)

Our boat 

Ruddy Turnstone

Royal Tern and Laughing Gulls

Inside the huge Fort Jefferson

From the top of the fort looking toward Bush Key where thousands of sea birds nest

Brown Noddies, Sooty Terns and Magnificent Frigatebirds

Brown Noddy

Brown Noddies argue over perch

Sooty Tern

Sooty Tern checking out nesting sites

Male Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird picking up nesting material

We asked the Captain to go by Hospital Key on the way back for a closer look at the Masked Boobies that nest here.
There is one Brown Booby in the middle of this flock, you will need your binoculars to find it.

Love & Prayers,  Ty & Ida